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July 15, 2017

Grace for Sarah

Carrie Ernst, Operations Manager at Independent Living Nova Scotia, has written to tell us about an effort underway to remember Sarah Dube, first recipient of the James McGregor Stewart Award in 2015. As you remember, Sarah died late last year, and her friend Grace McNee is cycling across Canada as a personal tribute to Sarah and fundraiser for Independent Living Nova Scotia, to which Sarah was so devoted.

“Sarah came into my life last year, and while I had far too short a time with her, she touched me deeply and inspired me beyond measure. Although I was her care worker, Sarah cared for me as much as I did for her and quickly became my nearest and dearest friend. She had many passions, from travel to philosophy, to the environment, to animal rights, and many more, too numerous to count. I learned a lot from her and she has inspired me to tackle the trek across Canada by bicycle. Nothing was ever too much for Sarah, and she never let her disability define her.

Sarah was a strong believer in the importance of independent living, and chaired the Board of Independent Living Nova Scotia (ILNS). We attended many meetings and events together, and I have been privileged to see the impact of some of the work they do. Through Sarah, independent living has become a cause near and dear to me. Sarah opened my eyes to new ways of looking at the world, and of living in it. She will always be one of the strongest and feistiest people I ever had the pleasure of knowing.

I am riding by bicycle across Canada, from the West Coast all the way to Newfoundland, and am raising money for ILNS in Sarah’s honour. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated.”

Grace’s website has an interactive map and blog of her locations, adventures and hard work.

One in One Thousand - The forgotten legacy of James McGregor Stewart

James McGregor Stewart, 1889-1955, son of a Pictou lawyer, grandson of a Cape Breton minister, was a principal of Stewart, McKelvey, the downtown Halifax law firm. In his time he was Nova Scotia’s premier corporate lawyer, and he wrote the rules for many of our most successful and long-lived companies. He was president of the Canadian Bar between the wars. He is one of fewer than 500 Canadians to be awarded the Commander of the British Empire for services to the Empire in WW II. His obituary was in the New York Times.
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